Farrell announced on Tuesday that, with the return of Shane Victorino to right field, Jonny Gomes would receive the start in left field over Daniel Nava in Game 6 on Wednesday at Fenway Park. Schilling said, ‘No, not at all,’ does starting Gomes over Nava make sense to him.

‘I love Daniel Nava, I think the kid is just a complete player,’ Schilling said. ‘I think that the Gomes thing is exactly what John said — I think it’s a hunch, and he’s continuing to play it.’

Schilling also questioned Farrell’s decision-making throughout the series.

‘I thought John had made some questionable moves and changes, and I thought got outmanaged a couple of different times,’ Schilling said. ‘They’re playing poorly, but they’re good enough to play around that. I guess they’re one of the few teams that can do that.’

If not for Ortiz, the Red Sox likely would find themselves in a significantly different situation. St. Louis continues to pitch to Ortiz despite the fact he possesses a .733/750/1.267 batting line, with four extra-base hits in five games.

‘The problem is that he’s so locked in, it’s very Barry Bonds-like in the sense that when he was going well, he would literally get one pitch, not an at-bat, a game, and when he got it he would never miss it. David is getting a pitch an at bat and he’s not missing it,’ Schilling said.

Schilling attempted to explain why Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright pitched to Ortiz in Boston’s 3-1 Game 5 win, when he collected three more hits, including an RBI double.

‘I think that Adam Wainwright thought he could change something,’ Schilling said, adding: ‘It’s different to talk to and tell your No. 2, 3, 4 and 5 to pitch around a guy than it is your ace.’

In addition to slowing Ortiz, the Cardinals must wake up on offense. Matt Holliday has been the main offensive contributor, providing four of St. Louis’ nine extra-base hits.

‘I don’t want to take anything away from the Red Sox, because I think they’ve done some things they’ve needed to do, but the Cardinals haven’t played well,’ Schilling said.

The Cardinals’ best run-producer, Allen Craig, still appears hampered by the foot injury that sidelined him for six weeks and up until the World Series.

‘At the end of the day, the Cardinals are doing this without their David Ortiz. Allen Craig, for the most part, is a non-entity,’ Schilling said.